The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
THE BLUFFS.
The Residences Overlooking Our city
North and south.
PTeps Equal to Any IN the Stuts-Descrpion
ofMe Ottawa Blrg Properties and Of
Who Opns Them.


bluffs, as residence sites, and of the sple
did advantages offered to people Of wealth
locate there. We are perfectly aware Of u
fact that q number of residence lots in
commanding location, and the erection of e
egant houses upon high lands overlookin
any city not only affords splendid looatio
to the homes so situated, but it also adds
the beauty Of the city itself. And so, RICH
here, in this connection, we are reminded q
the fact that in the matter of "bluf," take
in any sense you desire, Ottawa doesn't tax
a back seat for anyone. or for any city,
Ottawa Center lies in the square forme,
by two rivers, the canal, and the feeder On
the east and west sides the land is reasona
bly, level. there being only few slight un
dulations, but on the north and south ar,
very picturesque bluffs. The valley of tn,
illinois river is very handsome all along it.
length, but in no place is il more so than al
Ottawa. Here the valley is just mile wide
The residences on the north and south bluffs
are just one mile apart, and the city of OF,
taws is just a mile in breadth. Standing
upon either bluff and looking across to the
other, the city looks like Q lot of little ant
hill residences in tall grass, while the trees
on the opposite bluff are very plainly dis.
cernable. As far as natural beauty is con
ceived these bluffs are The pride of Ottawa
Taking first look at the
SOUTH BLUFF,
beginning at the eastern end Of the city, we
have high wooded promeutory. Back Of
this, and spreading away to the south and
west is the little city Of South Ottawa stu.
ated on the level ground back of the face of
the bluff About the first residence upon
this end Of the bluff and facing the river and
the city, is the house of Mr.. +. W. Schreeb
Then comes William Reese, b. b. Griffith
and Mrs. WIenn. At a point just west of
Mrs. Wienns, and nearly at the center of
bluff, Is q carriage drive, running up the
hill, and connecting with another drive run.
ming east and west back Of the houses which
face the river West of this drive are the
residences Of James MoMsnnus, d. J. Rice,
j. L. Scott, and j. L. Porter, in the order in
which they are mentioned, from east TO
west. Just west Of Mr.. Porter's residence
is another drive, extending up the hill, and
connecting with the east and west road
Mr.. Porter's is perhaps the most imposing
location upon the south bluff, being exactly
at The end of the Illinois river bridge, and
upon trlhe higher grodnd than the rest.
Mr. Porter has his grounds beautifully ar.
ranged, and carefully kept. with q fight of
strairs winding down the face Of the bluff to
the low strip Of ground by the river bank.
Mr.. Porter's residence can be seen from any
point in Ottawa, and from it the view of OF.
tawa and the surrounding country is su-
perb.
On the extreme west end Of tho south bluff
is the Corners property, recently purchased
by MIR. Henry Mayo, and just in the rear Of
1t is Mr. Mayo's former residence. BY the
purchase of this Corners property Mr.. Mayo
secured frontage upon the bluff with tn Q
view Of the river and the city.
These residences as we have mentioned {
them in order constitute the row of dwell.
ings seen upon the south bluff, and noticed ,
by every stranger rs soon as he strikes
town. On the
NORTH BLUFF 3
he display Of residence property is no less
imposing Upon the extreme east of the l
bluff is drive similar to those upon the
south side, running up the hill, AMI on the h
west side Of this drive is the elegant resi- h
fence and grounds Of Mr. h. De La Chap.
oelle, Familiarity known as the old Z. X. Le II
and residence, Then. still to the west are a
he homes of s. E. King. and II. M. Hamil-
on, standing side by side, as sort of re-.
hinder of the two boys who came to Ottawa VI
'ears ago, poor as church mice, and started %
he little firm of King & Hamilton, and,
the same part, ership, have
rown rich and influential together. A
rive separates Mr.. Hamilton's residence W
rom that Of MIR. Thomas ID. Cailin, to the
rest Of it, and then keeping on west, we ~.
ONE to the residence of Judge Cation, and ~
ne spacious grounds aud dwelling termed -.
Place" Mr.. F. A. Sherwood ~,
as recently expended considerable money ~
l refi,ting his grounds and they are the w
andsomest in the state. At the north and ~,
est Of Mr.. Sherwood, or the estate known IT.
; The Oaks the residence of Mrs. Gen.
al Wallace. This is beautiful plaza II,
he grounds is heavily shaded with most hr
agnifcent, gigantic oaks, and there, among l
Is own trees, rests the General himself. b..
meath costly monument to his memory. 90,
e was another Of those gallant and famous An
i'd noble men that Illinsis sent to the front h,
hen her country called for aid, and that @,
'litary monument up there among the oaks hi.
another Of the many hundreds of tributes tra